The state Senate’s main education committee has endorsed a bill that would penalize N.C. school systems for late payments to charter schools.
Government shouldn’t set prices
I once found a $20 bill on a sidewalk in Washington, D.C. I picked it up, thus ruining the punchline of an old joke.
State tax collections spike, opening door for tax-relief measure
North Carolina has collected more than $6 billion in state taxes than was originally forecast in May 2020 by state economists. That’s the finding of a report presented to members of the Joint Full Chairs Appropriations Finance Committee by the nonpartisan Fiscal Research Division at the General Assembly and the Office of State Budget and Management.
Governor Cooper grants pardon of innocence
Today, Governor Roy Cooper granted a Pardon of Innocence for Charles Ray Finch of Wilson, who was convicted of a crime he did not commit. Finch’s pardon application was thoroughly reviewed by the Office of Executive Clemency, the Office of the General Counsel and the Governor.
As COVID-19 variant of concern spreads rapidly, health officials urge North Carolinians to get vaccinated
There is increasing urgency for people to get vaccinated against COVID-19 as the more dangerous new Delta variant is rapidly spreading in the United States, including in North Carolina. Yesterday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention classified the Delta variant as a ‘variant of concern’ because it spreads faster than current COVID-19 variants.
NCDHHS announces COVID-19 screening testing program to increase K-12 school health staffing and capacity
The North Carolina Department of Health and Human Services is launching an expanded COVID-19 screening testing program to support public, charter and private K-12 schools in protecting students and staff from the spread of COVID-19. The program will launch in fall 2021 and schools can register to participate beginning in early July.
New revenue forecast projects additional $6.5 billion surplus by 2023
Economists in the Office of State Budget and Management and the General Assembly’s Fiscal Research Division released an updated consensus revenue forecast today anticipating an additional $6.5 billion in state revenues through the next biennium.
Commissioner Causey to honor first responders, family member who helped revive Raleigh man who’d collapsed while cutting lawn
North Carolina Insurance Commissioner Mike Causey on Wednesday will honor first responders and a family member who teamed up to save a Raleigh man’s life after he collapsed while mowing his yard.
German industrial automation company to build U.S. headquarters in Gaston County with $7.8 Million Investment
KNOLL America Inc., a supplier of conveyor and filtration systems, will create 31 new jobs in Gaston County, Governor Roy Cooper announced today. The company will invest more than $7.8 million to locate a new U.S. headquarters operations and manufacturing facility in Gaston County’s Apple Creek Corporate Park.
Governor Cooper signs two bills into law
"Organ donation brings life and hope from tragedy, and this legislation helps reduce the waiting list of people waiting for life saving transplants."
Budd campaign touts polling benefits from Trump endorsement
U.S. Rep. Ted Budd’s campaign team is highlighting new polling data showing the impact of former President Donald Trump’s endorsement in North Carolina’s 2022 U.S. Senate race.
Local judge tries to compel state lawmakers to fund education plan
The judge in the ongoing Leandro school funding case has signed an order that attempts to compel the General Assembly to fund the components of the Comprehensive Remedial Plan agreed to by both the defendants and plaintiffs in the case last year.
Senate passes public-disclosure bill, which now returns to House
A bill to provide more transparency to the public regarding performance and disciplinary records of government employees moved one step closer to becoming law Monday evening as House Bill 64, Government Transparency Act of 2021, passed its third reading in the N.C. Senate. If enacted as law, the new requirements would apply to state employees and workers in local school districts, counties, cities, and colleges and universities.
Cooper again extends North Carolina’s mask mandate
Democrat Gov. Roy Cooper issued his first executive order of the pandemic in March 2020, at the time implementing a interminable state of emergency, a move that’s typically reserved for hurricanes and other natural disasters.
Users should pay for highways
As a fiscal conservative who thinks government is generally too large and taxes too high, I am grateful for the gas tax.
Chief justice highlights right of petition in N.C. Supreme Court ruling
The N.C. Supreme Court has thrown out a lawsuit against owners of an Orange County quarry. Chief Justice Paul Newby’s opinion in the case focuses attention on the fundamental importance of the right to petition government.
Governor Cooper announces two Judicial appointments
Today, Governor Roy Cooper announced two judicial appointments to Superior and District Courts across the state.
Senate votes to ban abortions based on race, gender, or Down Syndrome
Jaden Ng, 13, and her family sat in the gallery on Thursday morning to watch the N.C. Senate vote to ban abortions sought based on the likelihood of Down syndrome, the condition Jaden has had her entire life.
Senate passes sweeping tax cut package with 8 Democrats on board
The North Carolina Senate passed a Republican-led tax reform package Wednesday evening in a quick, 36-14 vote that drew eight Democrats to cross the aisle and vote in favor of the bill. House Bill 334 would raise the standard deduction from $21,500 to $25,500 for joint filers, which would take about a quarter of a million of the lowest-income North Carolinians entirely off the tax rolls. It also reduces North Carolina’s flat income tax rate for remaining taxpayers from 5.25% to 4.99%.
Election integrity bills advance in N.C. Senate
Three bills comprising the thrust of legislative election integrity efforts advanced through the N.C. Senate Committee on Redistricting and Elections on Wednesday, June 9. Senate Bills 326, 725, and 724 were each approved by voice vote and referred out of committee.